The Iran Pot Calling the French Kettle, Black!

Iran has warned its citizens against travelling to France, because of what it says is a "serious level" of unrest in the country. The Iranian foreign ministry said France was a country in crisis following recent protests against the government's pensions reforms. Official news agency IRNA quoted an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman yesterday as saying: "We think the crisis in France has reached a serious level, and we advise all our nationals who plan to travel to this country to take necessary precautions. Not that many can travel anyway.

"Our compatriots have been informed of the travel warning via the Foreign Ministry website and the Iranian Embassy in Paris." The warning came hours after France and the UK called on all countries to follow the EU's lead by implementing "stringent, targeted sanctions" against Iran. The warning came hours after France and the UK called on all countries to follow the EU's lead by implementing "stringent, targeted sanctions" against Iran. Seriously! Iran just shoots you instead.

Iran Gets First Woman Government Minister

Iranian MPs have approved the first woman minister in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic. Her name is Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi who was approved as health minister.

She was one of 18 nominations for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's new cabinet to be approved. Two other women were among three rejected nominees.

The president's choice for defence minister, Ahmad Vahidi, who is wanted by Argentina over a deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre, won strong backing. The vote follows months of wrangling after disputed elections in June.

Hey, it is some sort of progress... right?

Scary stuff in Iran

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's accomplishments these past few weeks have been vast and unmistakable. By securing the unconditional support of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his power grab, Ahmadinejad killed three birds with one stone. He ensured that the clerical hierarchy in Qom - which is dependent on Khamenei for its financial stability - acquiesced to his authority. He expanded the Revolutionary Guards Corps' control over the country by making it the indispensable guardian of the revolution. And he effectively transformed Khamenei from the "supreme leader" into a creature of Ahmadinejad's will. The moment that Khamenei gave Ahmadinejad his full support and gave a green light to the Revolutionary Guards to repress the protesters, Khamenei tied his own fate to that of his president.

The peasants are revolting!

A hardline Iranian cleric today called for the execution of leading "rioters" to teach a lesson to the tens of thousands who have protested against the result of the presidential election two weeks ago. Now there is a novel way of showing the world how peaceful and accepting of diversity Shi'a Islam is in Iran! Maybe the hardliners should be executed and the people given a little freedom.

Revolution inside the Revolution

Decked out in his signature blue-collar jacket, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, looked completely at ease as the camera bulbs flashed. "I am the president of all Iranians," he told the gathered reporters last Sunday. Dismissing fraud allegations as not important and claiming the elections were free and real, Ahmadinejad likened the ongoing street protests in the Iranian capital to the unrest after a soccer match. "Some people are emotional and get upset if their team didn't win," he said with a quick smile. "Well, your team didn't win."
Mahmoud, there is a bit more to this than just the sulking of the losing team supporters; and I have a feeling that you will find this out the hard way. There is a groundswell in Iran that will continue to build until it reaches critical mass. Then there will be a new revolution and you and your dictatorial cronies will be swept away with the tidal wave, just like 1979, when the Shah was toppled. If there was no fraud in the election why is there so much unrest and rioting? Could it be that the ordinary man and woman in Iran feels that they have no say in how they run their lives, and that despite the teachings of the Quran, they have almost no real freedom?